Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is happening now! Follow us as Greg, Nick, and Stephen compete to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines before November 23rd. Who will complete the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
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A reader sent us a tip yesterday that he and and his wife both received offers to fast track to American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum status that sounded pretty interesting as the offer included twenty 500-mile upgrades form the outset just for registering. Here is the text of the email — note that I’m adding strikeout text where I think it belongs since the text as copied by reader Mark didn’t include it:
You’ve been exclusively selected to receive complimentary American Airlines AAdvantage® Platinum status through December 13, 2019. Plus, we’ll give you twenty 500-mile upgrades just for registering — no strings attached.
Want to keep Platinum status or earn Platinum Pro status through January 2021?
Earn the following Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) and Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) between the date you register and December 13, 2019.Elite status level EQMs needed EQDs needed
Platinum50,00012,500$6,000$1,500
Platinum Pro75,00020,000$9,000$2,400Register before you travel and no later than September 25, 2019.
Those offers look pretty solid if you’re interested in Platinum or Platinum Pro status. Even if you’re not super interested in challenging for status, the included upgrade “stickers” (as they are often called) just for registering look like a good deal to me. Note that I have no idea how widely available you’ll find upgrade space on AA, especially on any given route, but if you know your routes I imagine that could be a really nice deal. It’s worth checking your email for this offer — which I did not find in my account.
H/T: Reader Mark
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I’m involved In this challenge right now from may to Sept 25. I’ve completed the necessary miles and dollars and will have platinum pro status after my flight today. I got upgraded on my very first flight and now my last flight (completing the challenge). Both those flights were Transcon so very happy for the biz class upgrade. Had a short haul (>500 miles) with a comp upgrade. Had12+ Other flights in-between without successful use of stickers. Pro status means complimentary domestic upgrades. Woohoo
Also worth noting those stickers will NOT be redeemable as soon as the temporary status expires. So if you don’t plan on qualifying to keep the status, those stickers will sit in your account, but you cannot request to redeem them until you become an elite again.
@HiAperture
Just to confirm: if you lose (or don’t manage to renew) elite status, the 500mi stickers will stay in your account until you’re an elite again? For some reason I thought they would be deleted from your account if you lose status.
It would actually be great if my understanding was wrong. 🙂
I signed up for the same deal with American airlines but mine Platinum status expires 10/31. I have no shot at actually meeting the challenge requirements but I have a big trip coming up next month, part of which is on AA and figured what the hell. So I have an award ticket in biz class but the 1st segment PHX-DFW on AA is only in Econ. I called up AA and asked if I could use one of the 500 mile certs to possibly get an upgrade. The rep at first said yes, they could put me on the wait list before finally saying no they couldn’t because it was an award ticket. Then she mentioned that I should keep checking the flight and if award availability shows up to call in and they would change it for free since I had already paid for biz class.
I double checked my email, and those are the numbers for teh EQMs and EQDs needed. I didn’t notice that those didn’t copy and paste over. How does this elevation in status affect things like boarding sequence or luggage allowance/bonuses? I’m completely unfamiliar with what Platinum status gets me, outside of the 500 mile upgrades. We were already set to fly AA to Barcelona next week, so I don’t know if I get any perks on that flight.
I have 76 500 mile upgrade in my account. They NEVER clear. Their value is dubious.
You’re beating me out at only 63. If you don’t keep status they just sit in your account unused. The only route on which I could reliably get upgraded is PHX SJD and return. I’d just as soon siit in exit row aisle. It has more pitch, and lacks the bar in the back of the seat. 36 inch pitch first class is a joke. I’d been paying for first and gave up because of the pitch and lack of plugs.
@Losingtrader
They definitely just sit in your account unused (until you regain status)? I was concerned the stickers would just get deleted out of your account, and that this was an incentive to retain status year-on-year.
They sat there for 18 months when I had no status until AA offered me 90 days of Platinum, then sat another 2 years before I got 90 days of platinum for Hyatt status. I was buying first when I flew AA (as I do with every airline) because I don’t want to have to hope to clear on a transcon. I live in Vegas, so Vegas-NYC or BOS I pay for MINT. I travel on my dime and this blog and Gary’s have spoiled me.
As to AA, they have dumbed down first so much I only use them when they have the best schedule with the most possibilities for change if the plane goes mechanical.
UII rI tooo have a bunch of 500 mile upgrades sitting in my account. Unfortunately, they are only good on domestic flights. We travel mostly international, so they don’t do me any good….